Mission

Why Trails?

Trails in Grand County not only fulfill local recreational and transportation needs, they also provide a large draw for tourism. Improved facilities and continued planning of an interconnected trail system will enhance residents’ lives and provide for a larger economic base of year-round tourism. Trails will provide many people the increased ability to experience the natural outdoor beauty of Grand County. These enriching outdoor experiences improve physical and mental health, and provide for an understanding of an individual’s relationship with the natural world. Trails not only support recreational purposes but also potentially serve as an alternative local transportation system. These benefits combined have had strong influence throughout the development of the Grand County Headwaters Trails Master Plan.

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Background

Grand County has long had a significant number of multi-use trails, paths, and four wheel drive roads.  In 1988, with the help of the Grand County Commissioners, US West and Grand Mecca, the County began work on the assessment of current trails and the planning of future trails through the Headwaters Trails System.  The Headwaters Trails Committee was formed in 1989 with citizens representing all areas of the County. The committee was to explore trail and recreation opportunities available in Grand County and to develop goals and objectives for future development of these recreational opportunities. The Master Plan was meant to be a step in the continual process and improvement of the Headwaters Trails System, not a completion. Part of the impetus for the Plan was local concern about the closing of trails due to development. Many of these trails connect trail systems and public lands to each other and to communities, and are not only important to local users but are also valuable to the tourism industry in the County. The Headwaters Trails Master Plan has been designed to help prevent or mitigate these losses, to guide planned expansion, and to generally improve Grand County’s Trails System.

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Objectives & Purpose:

  • To link and protect significant resources along trails through the support of volunteers and public and private partnerships
  • To promote the appreciation, preservation, and enjoyment of trails through education
  • To promote cooperation and respect among various user groups to further enhance the quality of existing and future trails in Grand County
  • To coordinate monetary, informational, and personnel resources within and outside Grand County to further the planning, development and maintenance of trails in Grand County for the benefit of the public
  • · To review, recommend and assist in the implementation of grants and grant proposals
  • To collaborate with Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Forest Service and other community trail organizations to identify, build and maintain sustainable regional trail connections between the seven counties that border Grand County for appropriate multi-user groups
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Expanded Objectives

Improve access to the Headwaters Trails System. Access includes: the development and production of a usable county trail map, parking availability for trails, and other general improvements which produce a more usable trail system.
Maintain and accentuate the natural, cultural and historical assets of Grand County for local residents as well as visitors.
Provide a wide spectrum of recreational opportunities throughout Grand County for a variety of activities, skill levels and types of experiences.
Encourage and provide the county and municipalities with the opportunity to preserve trails and trail users’ rights through the prevention of trail closures due to privatization, development or unjustified exclusionary practices. Trails of particular importance are those connecting public lands and trail systems to each other and to communities.
Provide the county the option to require trail easements, trail rights of ways or trail impact fees in lieu of lands from subdivision developers.
Encourage users to “Tread Lightly” and promote environmental awareness and respect among the users of the Headwaters Trails System.
Encourage mutual respect and courtesy among the variety of trail users in Grand County towards each other and private landowners.
Connect existing trails and planned trails with trails in counties bordering Grand County.
Encourage the removal of trail related injury liability from private land owners and encourage private owners to permit the continued use of preexisting trials which pass through their property. Provide graded, gravel recreational trails which provide access from paved trails to trailheads, scenic views, various historic sites and other counties. These routes can also provide alternatives to the paved routes, i.e., Cottonwood Pass, Parshall Divide, and Church Park Road.